Vanity case



June 9, 1936. R.: c. BANGS VANITY CASE Filed oct. e, 1932 Patented June 9, 1936 PATENT OFFICE VANITY CASE Ralph C. Bangs, Providence, R. I., assignor to Juliette G. Woli, New York, N. `Y.

Application October 6, 1932, Serial No. 636,444 9 claims. 1m32- 82) 'Ijhis invention relates to vanity cases adapted to be carried in the pocket or a handbag and particularly to a type of case for containing loose face powder and supplying it to a powder-puff enclosed in the case.

- AA particular object of the invention is to provide a vanity case of the type specifledchaving a compartmentfor the powder-puff, a separate compartment for the` powder and means for transferring the powder therefrom to the pui compartment in small quantities as required.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a case of the type specified which is adapted to be conveniently filled with the powder and proof against leakage or spillageof the powder therefrom.

Another object of the invention is toY provide .inV acase of the type specified an improved hinge-mounting for the pivoted cover which makes 'for greater strength and rigidity and insures against loosening and displacement of the parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case ofthe type specified adapted for economical manufacture from sheet-metal stampings and easy assembly of the parts.

f Further objects of the inventionl are set forth inthe following specication which describes a preferred form of construction of the case, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved vanity case shown with its cover in open position todisclose the interior;

Fig; 2 is a plan view of the case, with the cover open;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the median plane` of the case .with its cover shown in closed relationship; I, Fig. 4 is a similar vertical sectional View showing the cover in open position;

. Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the case shown in part section and illustrating the manner of assembling the parts thereof; and

I Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the cover and base completely assembled.

vThe present improved vanity case comprises, in its preferred form, a receptacle or bowl 2 for holding a powder-puff; a cover or closure member 3 h ingedly connected to the `bowl to adapt it to be closed into overlying relationship thereon; and a pliable bag or pouch 4 suspended below the bottom of the bowl for holding the powder. A hinged lid is provided for closing an opening in the bottom of the bowl through which the also shown powder may be inserted into thepouch. Small I perforations in the bottom of the bowl permit the powder to permeate therethrough from the pouch to` impregnate the puff therein.

Referringto the drawing, the puff-receptacle or bowl-member 2 may be of circular or other ornamental contour struck up from sheet-metal with its upper marginal rim 6 rolled or spun outwardly and downwardly to form a depending flange 'l as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The marginal edge of the bowl is first flanged outwardly and then recessed to form a depressed circular seat 8, upon which the outer rim of the cover member 3 rests when in closed position. The raised bead 9 formed by recessing the rim of the bowl at 8 surrounds the edge of the cover 3 when thelatter is in closed position, whereby to provide a smooth, flush joint between the parts.

A pliable bag or pouch 4 is attached to the under side of the bowl 2 to serve as a container for loose powder. The pouch 4 may be constituted by a circular piece of leather, fabric or otherexible and impervious material attached to the bowl in any suitable manner. As herein shown, the edges of the pouch material are insertedbetween the down-turned flange 'land theusides of the bowl 2, see Fig. 6, and the flange then crimped or rolled inwardly as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to bind the fabric or other material securely to the rim of the bowl. The area of the fabric or other material of the pouch is proportioned to cause it to sag below the bottom of the bowl 2 to form a separate compartment for holding the powder which is placed therein in the manner as later explained.

VIn the bottom of the bowl 2 is a rectangular aperture or filler-opening I which communicates with the interior of the pouch 4. The lleropening I Il is provided with a closure or lid II, preferably hinged to its side in the manner as next described. Held in spaced bearing ears I3 formed on one side of the opening Il) is a hingepin I2 on which the lid Il is pivotally supported by means of a hinge-ear I4 positioned between the ears I3. When the lid I I is in closed position its forward and lateral edges rest against a recessed ledge I formed by offsetting the metal at the edges vof the opening II'I.A On the side oppositefrom its hinge the lid II is provided with an integral ear I1 bent or curled around to form alatch adapted to snap under a detent-lip I8 on the side of the opening IIJ when the lid is carried down into closed position as shown in Fig. 3. The lid II is thus releasably held in closed position and may be opened at will by merely pressing it upwardly from its under side to free its latch I'I from the detent-lip I8. Small holes or perforations 23 punched through the bottom of the bowl 2 provide for ingress of the powder to its interior from the pouch 4.

The lid or cover member 3 for the case may be circular in outline or of any other suitable contour to correspond tothe shape of the bowl 2. As herein shown, the cover is concave-convex in cross section to provide a crowned top with its peripheral rim rolled or flanged downwardly in a more abrupt curve. At one side of the rim of the cover 3 is a loop or hinge-ear I9 by means of which the cover is hingedly mounted on a wire 2l secured fast to the rim of the bowl 2. Referring to Fig. 5, the wire 2l is passed through the hinge-ear I9 on the cover 3 and its ends are bent at right-angles in the form of a staple. The legs of the staple are passed through holes punched through the upper rim 6 of the bowl 2 and then clinched or bent upwardly against the under side of the rim. Preferably, the upper rim of the bowl 2 is depressed or recessed at 22 to receive the hinge-ear I9 to insure that the cover 3 shall lie flat against the seat 8 of the rim when it is closed down thereagainst.

The cover 3 isreleasably held in closed position with its peripheral flange seated snugly againstV the seat 8 by means of a spring latch or finger 23. The latch 23 projects radially from the outer edge of the cover 3 and is adapted to snap over the rim of the bowl 2 in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 3. The bead 9 on the rim of the bowl 2 is flattened at 24, see Figs. 2 and 3, where the latch 23 overlaps the top of the rim. VThe cover 3 is usually provided with a mirror 25 cemented or otherwise secured to its interior and its exterior may be suitably ornamented or embellished by embossing or engraving designs thereon and by colored enamels when desired. v

The present improved vanity case is operated in use in the manner as next explained. To fill the lower pouch 4 the cover 3 is opened as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 and the powder P poured into the bowl 2. The small lid I I is then opened by pressing upwardly against the bottom of the pouch to disengage the loop I I on the lid from the detentlip I8 on the side of the filler-opening I0. The powder can then be fed through the opening I0 into the pouch 4 by tilting and shaking the bowl 2. When the pouch has been filled in the manner as above explained the lid I I is closed and fastened by the detent-lip I8, see Fig. 3. A powder-puff or chamois p, indicated by dash lines in Fig. 3, is placedv in the bowl 2 and the cover 3 closed down until its latch 23 snaps over the rim 8 of the bowl. TheL vanity case is then ready for use.

When it is desired to use the powder the case is held in the hand and by pressing lightly against the pouch 4 with the finger in the manner indicated in Fig. 3 the powder P is pressed against the under side of the bowl 2 and forced through the small perforations 2U to supply the puff p. Onlyra modicum of powder is transferred to the main compartment of the case to lightly impregnate the puif so that waste and the danger of spillage is avoided. The cover 3 is raised by prying itsV latch 23 away from the rim of the bowl 2 with the fingernail and lifting it upwardly. With the cover openV the puif p may be removed-used,V and replaced in the main compartment or bowl 2. When the puif has been replaced in the bowl 2 the cover 3 is again closed down upon its seat 8 and its latch 23 snapped over the rim of the bowl to hold it in closed position. The downturned peripheral rim of the cover 3 seats firmly against the seat 8 on the rim of the bowl to form a tight joint which prevents leakage of the powder from the main compartment.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a particularly simple and efficient device for the purposes intended. 'Ihe metal parts of the case are adapted for economical manufacture from sheet-metal stampings and for convenient assembly.

A feature of improvement of the present invention consists in providing a vanity case for containing the powder stored in a separate compartment from the puff to avoid the danger of spillage and waste. The powder is thus kept in a clean and dry condition and may be conveniently supplied to the puff in small quantities as required without .wasteful excess.

The improved method of hinging the cover and bowl together may be applied to other types of cases or containers as providing for greater strength and rigidity with the members less liable to become separated or displaced.

While the invention is herein described and illustrated as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a vanity case, the combination of a concave receptacle having perforations in its bottom, a pouch for powder enclosing the bottom of the receptacle, a filler-opening in the bottom of the receptacle communicating with the interior of the pouch, and means for closing the filler-opening.

2. In a vanity case, the combination of a concave bowl having a perforated bottom, a cover therefor, a flexible pouch suspended across the bottom of the bowl for holding a supply of powder, an opening in the bottom of the bowl communicating with the interior of the pouch, closure-means for the opening comprising a lid hingedly connected to the bowl, and detentmeans forvnormally maintaining the lid in closed position.

3. In a vanity case, the combination of a concave bowl, a cover hinged to the bowl to close the open top thereof, a flexible pouch suspended across the bottom of the bowl, an opening in the bottom of the bowl through which powder may be supplied to the pouch, means for closing the opening, and perforations in the bowl through which a modicum of powder may be transferred from the pouch to the interior of the bowl.

4. In a vanity case, the combination of a bowl having its upper rim extended to form a circular seat with a flange depending therefrom, a cover hingedly connected to the bowl to adapt it to close down upon its seat, and a flexible pouch secured to the edge of the bowl by the depending flange and the under side of the rim forming the seat with the entire peripheral edge of the pouch gripped therebetween.

5. In a vanity case, the combination of a bowl having its upper rim extended to form a flat circular seat with an enclosing shoulder and then folded downwardly to provide a depending flange, a cover hingedly connected to the bowl to adapt it to close down upon its seat with its peripheral edge enclosed by the shoulder on its rim, and a ilexible pouch secured to the rim of the bowl by the depending ange and the under side of the rim with the entire peripheral edge of the pouch gripped therebetween.

6. In a vanity case, the combination of a bowl having a ared rim with perforations therein, a cover having a hinge-ear, and means for pivotally connecting the cover to the bowl comprising a U-shaped hinge-wire inserted through the hinge-ear with its right angled legs projecting through the perforations and bent over to clinch them against the under side of the rim whereby the hinge wire forms a pivot for the cover on the outer side of the rim.

7. A container for loose powder comprising a pouch for holding the powder, a closure plate for the mouth of said pouch, said plate having an opening for the passage of powder, an upstanding wall associated with the closure plate and forming therewith a chamber for a puff, and a cover hingedly associated with the closure plate.

8. A container for loose powder comprising a pouch for holding the powder, a closure plate having its rim bent upwardly to form a wall de- I'lning a chamber for a puff and then bent downwardly to form a lip, the mouth of the pouch being gripped between said lip and said wall, the closure plate having an opening for the passage of the powder, and a cover hingedly associated with the closure plate.

9. A container for loose powder comprising a pouch for holding the powder, a closure plate for the mouth of said pouch, said plate having an opening for the passage of powder, an upstanding wall associated with the closure plate and forming therewith a chamber for a puff, and a cover for said chamber.

RALPH C. BANGS. 

